Last update - 00:00 30/11/2006
Complaint: Olmert's security detail pointed guns at students
By Amos Harel, Haaretz Correspondent
Two civilians have filed complaints with the police alleging that a member of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's security detail pointed a gun at them for no reason in North Tel Aviv Tuesday morning. The Shin Bet denies that a weapon was pointed at civilians.
Tel Aviv University law student Assaf told Haaretz Wednesday he was riding his motorcycle west on Rokah Boulevard, on his way to the university, when the incident occurred. Assaf recounted that he was in the left lane when a convoy that included police cars and security vehicles passed him in the right lane, driving fast.
"I heard sirens and saw them driving to my right, so I slowed. When the last vehicle passed me - a blue Pajero - the guard in the back seat lowered the window from halfway to all the way open, drew his weapon and pointed it at me," he said.
Assaf, a reserve paratrooper, said the guard was carrying a M-4 equipped with a scope. "They didn't stop me or ask me to stop. Just kept driving. I was upset because I saw no reason for them to point a gun at me. I did nothing suspicious and I posed no threat to the convoy."
The Olmert convoy continued on to Shin Bet headquarters in north Tel Aviv. Along the way, it passed through a junction where Talia, another Tel Aviv University law student, was crossing. Talia says the police in the lead car ordered the cars to make way. As Talia walked to the sidewalk, the convoy passed her.
A gun was pointed at her out of the same SUV. Talia and Assaf's descriptions of the guard's location in the car match - both depicting the back seat on the driver's side. Talia said that the guard didn't draw the gun on her. "He pointed it out the window while traveling so the barrel was pointed at me as the jeep passed. That was scary enough - and I don't think I threatened them." She also claims the guard muttered a curse as the car went by her.
Assaf filed a report with the Dan district police for what he called aggressive and unjustified treatment by the security guard. He also called the Shin Bet VIP security unit after getting the phone number from the police. He says the duty officer at the unit told him to try "not to take it personally. We work aggressively and pointing weapons is part of routine protocol."
The Shin Bet stated in response that "During the prime minister's movements in Tel Aviv, two motorcyclists who did not obey instructions to stop were identified. A member of the security detail signaled them to pull over using hand signals. At no stage in the incident was a weapon directed at a civilian. This is a critical security procedure, conducted according to regulations." Security sources told Haaretz that when the complaint is transmitted from the police to the Shin Bet, it will be thoroughly reviewed.